Isn’t pantheism the same thing as atheism?

[Alan V]

The dictionary definition of God isn't really gonna help you understand pantheism. Joseph Raphson coined the term to describe Spinozism. It's not like a popular or colloquial definition of God is gonna illuminate what Spinoza meant by God.

Then Spinoza was fudging with his use of the word "God," probably to navigate the bigotries of the times he lived in.

Spinoza was a hard determinist. To him, nobody has free will. Not even God. If you and I count as beings, but are merely a collection of matter doing what matter does, why can't the entire universe also count as a being?.... designated as "God"... but just like you or I... God can only unfold due to it's nature and prior causes.

A God without the ability to make choices is not a God by the usual definitions. He is powerless rather than powerful.

If you want to redefine all material constructions as "beings," fine. But that changes the definition of the word "being" just as Spinoza muddled the definition of the word "God."

Religious people acquire any number of social benefits from using the word "God" in different ways than the standard definitions. They are actually equivocating to achieve certain ends of their own.

However, I will concede that your non-God God is a possible pantheistic God. Philosophers are always stipulating special definitions and confusing other people in the process. But it's a hollow victory.